Rodgers H. Cook, 95

November 20, 2014 - 07:59

In MemoriamRodgers H. Cook, of Vancouver, Wash., passed away peacefully at home on March 26, 2014, after having long term lung disease. He was born Nov. 20, 1919, to Aimee and Edmund Cook in Allegan.Rod attended elementary and high school in Allegan. After high school he hitchhiked to Michigan State College in 1937. He graduated with a degree in pre-law and public administration.Pearl Harbor derailed law school. In 1942, he served as a Navy ensign in the South Pacific. He was commissioned as an officer in the Pacific until 1946. He returned to civilian life in Alameda, Calif., and was recalled to active duty in 1948. After the Korean War and the Berlin Air Lift he left the Navy in 1953 as a Lt. Commander.Rod moved to Portland, Ore., and became the general agent for the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company through the 1960s. He retired in 1979.Rod and his first wife Ann moved to Puget Island, Cathlamet, Wash. Ann died in 1987. Soon after, he met Eileen Torrey who was a realtor in Wilsonville, Ore. Eileen and Rod were married on Valentine's Day 1988. When his oldest daughter, Mary Ann, died they moved to Vancouver, Wash. to live near his daughters, Carrie Perri and Lynn Volz.Rod and family traveled extensively with his Navy duty and since 1988, he and Eileen have traveled to Michigan, Mexico, Hawaii, Canada, Europe, Queen Charlotte Islands, and Alaska and they also spent 20 winters in the California desert.He was preceded in death by his mother and father; brothers, Thomas, Grover, and Duncan; and sisters, Mary Woolcock and Martha Keller. Also deceased were his first wife Ann; oldest daughter Mary Ann; his daughter Carol Elizabeth; and stepson Steven Torrey. He was also preceded in death by his very best friends Ray Weber and Ralph White.He is survived by his wife Eileen and her children Linda and Diane; his daughter Carrie and her children, Andrew, Ian and Kate; and his daughter Lynn and her husband, Bob Volz.A private military service was on April 25 at Willamette National Cemetery.Happy birthday, Dad.